Babri Masjid verdict: Ban on rallies and processions in Bangalore on September 24

In view of the crucial Ayodhya title suit verdict on September 24, the City police has promulgated Section 144 besides banning all types of religious processions and public gatherings, so as to forestall any trouble in the wake of the Allahabad High Court’s order on the Ram Janam Bhoomi-Babri Masjid issue on that day.

Police commissioner Shankar M Bidari and Additional commissioner Gopal B Hosur took stock of the security situation in the city at a meeting with senior police officers. Under the prohibitory orders, there will be a ban on protests, victory processions and any kind of celebration or mourning in public places. The police have decided to appeal to the clergy of both communities to help maintain peace.

As Sept 24 is a Friday, the police have decided to take the help of imams who lead the prayers in mosques in maintaining communal peace. Station-level police officers will hold talks with the prayer leaders in this connection. The police will hold similar talks with heads of Hindu religious institutions. Communal harmony meetings at the police station level are being planned before Sept 24. Along with striking a harmony between Hindu-Muslim communities, police have activated sleuths attached to various intelligence agencies to collect information on communal flare-ups if any and inform the police station officers.

Police will mobilise forces all over the city, especially in hyper-sensitive areas like Mysore Road, Magadi Road, Shivajinagar, DJ Halli, K G Halli, Shivajinagar and Austin Town. City Armed Reserve personnel have been told to be ready for deployment and to not take leave. Personnel from the Karnataka State Reserve Police will be deployed in the city from Thursday. Rapid Action Force sleuths have been asked to remain on stand-by.

Bad characters, mischief-makers and people with a history of spreading communal disharmony will be taken into preventive custody from Tuesday. At Monday’s meeting, the police commissioner asked unit heads to remain prepared to face any eventualities in their limits. Officers have been told to be on the streets on that day.